Life in polluted areas has more risk from Corona: Study

It is worth noting that the pollution level in many cities in India is in severe category. A study by Xiao Wu and Rachel C. Netheri of Harvard University's Department of Biostatistics, revealed that people living in such areas are at high risk of death.

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Study conducted by Harvard University raises concerns for several cities amid rising cases of corona virus (COVID-19). The study found that people living in polluted areas has 20 times more risk of life of people from corona virus, especially areas where the amount of PM 2.5 in the air is high.

It is worth noting that the pollution level in many cities in India is in severe category. A study by Xiao Wu and Rachel C. Netheri of Harvard University's Department of Biostatistics, revealed that people living in such areas are at high risk of death. If the amount of PM 2.5 in the air is increased by just one microgram on a cubic meter, the risk of life increases by 15 percent. That is, even small amounts of pollution can increase the number of deaths due to corona virus.

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This study provides evidence that counties having more polluted air will experience higher risks of death for Covid-19,” said Francesca Dominici, a professor of biostatistics. Dr. Dominici said counties with higher pollution level will have higher numbers of hospitalizations and deaths. In such areas many resources should be concentrated.”

PM (Perticulate Matter) 2.5 are small particles that dissolve in air. The diameter of these particles is 2.5 micrometers or less. Visibility decreases when their level in the air is high. These particles are inhaled into our lungs with no system in our body to prevent them entering the inner body. These particles are generated on a large scale by the combustion of fuel in cars, refineries and power plants.

This study from US can also raise concerns in India as 14 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world are from India. The most polluted cities are Ghaziabad, Delhi, Noida and Gurugram.

Last year, the PM 2.5 level in the Delhi air was 98.6 ug / m3. This was more so in 2017 and 2018. Although pollution has decreased due to the 21-day lockdown, the level of continuous pollution was in the 'severe' category before that.

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Before this study, it was revealed that the diseases related to heart and trouble in breathing are directly related to increased PM 2.5 particles in the air. Air pollution was also responsible for deaths in 2003 during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) caused by another type of corona virus.

The study says that there is a need to take large steps to reduce pollution. The outbreak of Corona virus that has spread all over the world is not taking its name. So far around 1.5 million people have been infected with it and more than 88 thousand people have died so far.

The number of infected in the US alone is more than 4.3 lakhs. There are more than 14,000 deaths here. There have been more than 5,000 cases of the epidemic in India and around 150 people have lost their lives.